Ruby Walsh has won his third Irish National.
6/1 shot Burrows Saint has won the Irish Grand National to make it a Cheltenham Gold Cup and Irish Grand National double for Carlow based trainer Willie Mullins.
Paul Townend was the pilot when Al Boum Photo won in Cheltenham but it was Ruby Walsh who was aboard on Easter Monday in Fairyhouse as Rich Ricci’s six-year-old held on to win one of the most prestigious and richest prizes in Irish racing.
Ruby Walsh tucked his horse in during the first circuit but when the race came down to its business stages and the horses turned in for home, Burrows Saint came to the fore pulling an absolute cart.
The worry of course was that he mightn’t pick up with stable companions Isleofhopenddreams and Acapella Bourgeois chasing but after jumping the last like a buck, the gamble of the day had enough to see it out up the run-in.
Burrows Saint is all class under Ruby Walsh in the @BoyleSports Irish Grand National in a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins! @Fairyhouse
Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/jkMroWTpso
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2019
Surprisingly, Mullins had never won the Irish Grand National before Burrows Saint’s triumph and afterwards he acknowledged the unprecedented levels of success they’ve enjoyed as a team this year.
“It’s tremendous for the yard and for (winning owner) Rich Ricci. It’s been a year when we’ve done things we’ve never done before,” he said.
Meanwhile, that man Ruby was interviewed by his sister Katie on RTE Sport after the race and he returned the compliment to the master handler.
“I love working for him, Katie. I’m there since I was 16 when he offered me a job, that’s a long time to work for anybody, but we haven’t fallen out yet.
“Whenever anything goes wrong, he’s standing right behind you.”
You could make an absolute cock-up of something and he never says anything. There isn’t a loyaler man in training,” he said before signalling this horse’s potential to have a crack at Tiger Roll on Racing TV.
"We'll have a go at Tiger Roll."
All roads to @AintreeRaces next year for @BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner Burrows Saint, says @Ruby_Walsh pic.twitter.com/wr1wcfkRev
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2019
What a team.
